The One Deck Advice

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Aug 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Summerdream	17 Aug 2003
Hello! The other day I was over my sister-in-laws house whom I read cards for regularly. Anyway, she told me one of her friends who also reads cards told her I needed to get rid of all my decks immediatley and keep only one. Somehow I was only supposed to have one. Now, of course I don't believe this advice since just about everyone I know who reads tarot has more than one deck but where do you think her advice stems from anywhere? I'd be nice if people posted why it is good to have more than one deck than I can print this out and give to to my sister-in-law to give to her! Blessings, Momof3girls

Astra	17 Aug 2003
Just tell her "there is no one true way", and that you won't mind if she sticks to one deck if she doesn't try to tell you how it ought to be done. There is no "reason" for sticking with one, or working with half a dozen, or collecting several hundred - only individual preference.

Logiatrix	17 Aug 2003
That belief is not one I've actually read in any of the mainstream tarot writings I've poured over. However, it sounds like another one of those "shoulds" such as, "your deck should only be a gift." Those kind of beliefs seem to develop in the eagerness to keep tarot cloaked in a mystical shroud. I believe tarot is sacred, but not mysterious. I happily respect tarot as a sacred tool, and the reading of the cards as a sacred act, but that respect has served to inspire in me an overwhelming desire to wallow in "All Things Tarot"! I think that strong desire is called "zealousness," a trait well known in my family :) ... I also have numerous Bibles, and I learn something different every time I read a new version of scripture. It just so happens that I had a fellow church-goer recently tell me I should have only one Bible (I have about thirty Bibles), but she couldn't tell me why. When she realized that I was leading the Bible study (and I did rather well), she developed sudden amnesia about the "one Bible only" comment. If you are solid in your practice, then you will have no need to defend such silly details as this "rule." I think it's good for me to have more than one tarot deck because it stretches my brain to learn the different images. Each deck offers a different school of thought, group of symbols, and artistic perspective. IMHO, it comes down to this: know your craft, revel in your art, and share your gift. With one tarot deck, or with many--it's YOUR path. :)

Umbrae	17 Aug 2003
...Might just want to ask 'her' to clarify where she heard such a thing. An answer such as, “Well everybody knows.” Or “I heard it somewhere.” Or “A very powerful witch told me…” Are non-verifiable, or quantifiable answers (a nice way of saying complete rubbish). It is always important to ascertain when someone is stating an opinion as a fact.

Aun	17 Aug 2003
One of the things I most enjoy is to go to the store, get a new deck and study it... each deck brings a new perspective to my knowledge

Cerulean	17 Aug 2003
is a saying from an old television-movie show of one immortal left on Planet Earth. &). I would call that a fiction for me. But that is me and my reasons for enjoying decks can be very different than yours. Let's see. Why would someone say, "you only need one'" tarot deck? Would they also say, 'You only need one fiction book," or "one set of exercise clothes" or "one pair of athletic shoes" as well? If the casual observer believes or only sees someone use the athletic shoes or set of clothes in the gym and doesn't observe other activities with walking, boating, hiking, then of course a casual observer believes 'you need only one set'. Given that I do more than one activity with shoes required and the terrain is different, I do have walking sandels, water sandels, two pair of gym shoes and one lightweight casual khaki flats. All my athletic shoes show wear even if I'm careful, because of daily usage of one or more pair. I use decks for different reasons. Maybe the casual observer only finds their deck usage is casual and they use it ten minutes every ten days. They could well enjoy just using one deck. I can understand--I only have one old dictionary that I rarely use. I don't need another. But that casual observer is enjoying their one tarot deck in a different way than myself. If the casual observer is noticing that you need storage options for your multiple decks and that strikes her or him as not a good thing, perhaps you might ask why. If their explanation doesn't agree with your interests, maybe it is a good question for yourself---why do you like multiple decks and what do you use them for? I know one friend who doesn't collect decks, but has two. A Rider Waite as he saw one as a kid and thought the pictures were neat. The other is the 007 deck because it is silly and was used in an old adventure movie. He uses them for fun and has two decks. For him two is more than enough, as he rarely picks them up more than once or twice a year.

Little Baron	17 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Aun One of the things I most enjoy is to go to the store, get a new deck and study it... each deck brings a new perspective to my knowledge Says it all perfectly!!! Yaboot

lawguy51	17 Aug 2003
As most of you know (and are tired of hearing!) I had the good fortune to spend two weekends in a row with Rachel Pollack and Mary Greer. Rachel bought at least four decks over the two weekends that I saw and Mary spent a good deal of time at the Tarot card booth as well. That's a good enough answer to this question for me. I mean, can anyone think of one hard and fast rule about Tarot? Lawguy51

jmd	17 Aug 2003
It's alright to only have one deck... if one works with the Tarot, however, how can the person make certain it is the right one unless s/he has others to compare it with? Only then may s/he realise that each brings its own immense qualities. The comment of 'only one' I have previously only heard from a BOTA member - and the view does not reflect BOTA, but that person's personal limitations, in my opinion.

catti	17 Aug 2003
that you can only read on a table my stepmother threw me out of her house one night because i did a tarot reading for her neice on her bed. she told me i should have known better. i got asked to leave cause it really pissed me off that she barged in on a reading, that was spot on and ruined it. i should have known better than to talk back to her like I did..... oh well..... she probably thinks i should only have one deck , since that night I never offered to read for her ( which i have many times before) , and dont discuss tarot at all. she has her whole magic world figured out and woe is the mortal who doesnt follow every step of her path *whew* extremists drive me to ....well, extremes.... why was i reading in the bedroom? becuase some readings you just know should be private, others you can do on the kitchen table

Dark Inquisitor	17 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Momof3girls Hello! The other day I was over my sister-in-laws house whom I read cards for regularly. Anyway, she told me one of her friends who also reads cards told her I needed to get rid of all my decks immediatley and keep only one. Blessings, Momof3girls __She didn't, by chance, offer to take them off your hands for you , did she? (ha !!) Because many of the good people here would do that same thing for you -- no charge !! No one comes between me & my decks - that lady is not playing with a full one if you ask me. Catti- just out of curiosity, why is it your stepmother thinks readings should only be done on a table?? Tarotphelia

Elle	18 Aug 2003
I have begun to collect and use multiple decks since I started participating here at Aeclectic. I used to be a one-deck girl. I thought I could only handle one, and I am far from its master! I took long breaks in- between and never studied tarot nearly as hard as others here. Everyone here is so enthusiastic about various decks - in their descriptions and qualities- that now I can't pass up an opportunity to at least "look" at all the lovely decks in the glass case in the bookstore. I have a question about the best use for certain decks. I guess I should post it on a seperate thread, which I will do now... Warmest, Elle

baba-prague	18 Aug 2003
I agree with most of the other people on this thread, but just wanted to add that one reason to read with more than one deck is simply that sometimes a certain deck suits a question or a querent best. This has been discussed many, many times on Aeclectic. Obviously, I now nearly always read with Tarot of Prague (a really special experience, as suddenly I see things that I didn't see even when we were designing it) but I imagine I'll still sometimes use other decks for certain readings if I just feel that they "fit" the situation better.

Kiama	18 Aug 2003
I have more than one deck, even though I only read regularly with one (Robin Wood) for many reasons. The first is that in my mind, every single deck, because it is created by a different person, provides me with a new insight into the cards, or a new 'take' on the cards, so my knowledge and understanding of the cards grows. For instance, one deck may only focus on the mothering aspect of the Empress, whilst another deck may focus only on the sovereignity aspect of the Empress, whilst yet another deck may focus only on the Mother Earth aspect. If I use and study only ONE of these decks, I am essentially getting only one part of the whole story. If, however, I study them all, I get a wholer picture and added insight into the Empress. The second reason is because I can learn alot from decks with specific themes. A good deck that has a theme of Arthurian Legend can teach me more about Arthurian Legend than reading s book about it could. (The Legend Arthurian Tarot is a wonderful teaching tool when it comes to Arthurian Legend.) I also wouldn't know half as much about William Blake's philosophy and poetry if I hadn't studied the William Blake Tarot deck. You wanna know about Glastonbury? Go take a look at the Glastonbury Tarot, that uses the cards to explore the myths, legends, and people in that wonderful town. Do you want to understand Crowley and the system of Thelema? What better tool to use than the Thoth deck? The third reason is that I am a sucker for pretty things, and Tarot decks can be very very pretty indeed! The fourth reason is that I give alot of talks and workshops on Tarot, and most of the time the talk will require the attendees to use a Tarot deck. Many don't have one of their own, but if I have a large collection I can take along with me, they can choose one they feel they can work with for that evening. This not only tells me alot about that person, but it gives that person the opportunity to see what decks are available to them should they wish to buy their own. The fifth reason is that I can also help people who are interested in Tarot find a deck they can work with, as they can run through my collection, look at the decks, and then go and buy the one they like. This certainly beats having to look at only a few card son the web, and they can also try a reading with the deck before buying, to give it the ultimate test and see if they can respond to it. (It is one thing to think a deck looks nice, but it is another to be able to read with it.) The final reason is that I love Tarot. Some people love stamps and therefore they collect stamps. Some people love butterflies, and therefore they pin them to boards and collect them. Me, I love Tarot and all things involved with it, and so I collect Tarot decks. :D So, those are my reasons for collecting decks. Hope it helps. Kiama

Summerdream	18 Aug 2003
Very well said Kiama!! Bravo!!!

catti	18 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Tarotphelia Catti- just out of curiosity, why is it your stepmother thinks readings should only be done on a table?? Tarotphelia She belongs to an espiritismo group and styles herself as a witch.Her madrina has banned her from reading books on the occult, because she was told it would make her head crazy ( too late if you ask me). so somebody in the group told her that was how tarot was/is/will be. She knows very little of the cards, but she is a taurus and the sun rises and sets with her opinions. Some how she thinks i was desecrating her bed, and my bed too i guess, i do readings on the bed all the time because it is a nice open space, more comfy than the floor, and usually quiet.That is why I am a solitary , random rules to put people in their place by fear and ignorance disgust me.

Logiatrix	18 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by lawguy51 I mean, can anyone think of one hard and fast rule about Tarot? Lawguy51 Get tarot cards...LOTS and LOTS of tarot cards...Get tarot cards NOW! })

Dark Inquisitor	18 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by catti She belongs to an espiritismo group and styles herself as a witch.Her madrina has banned her from reading books on the occult, because she was told it would make her head crazy ( too late if you ask me). so somebody in the group told her that was how tarot was/is/will be. She knows very little of the cards, but she is a taurus and the sun rises and sets with her opinions. Some how she thinks i was desecrating her bed, Good luck with your upcoming escape , hon !! Tarotphelia

SongDeva	23 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by catti That is why I am a solitary , random rules to put people in their place by fear and ignorance disgust me. You seem to be very level-headed and strong. Right on!

The The One Deck Advice thread was originally posted on 17 Aug 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.